After India’s 70-run win over New Zealand to break the semifinal jinx, former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded skipper Rohit Sharma as the ‘real hero’ of the side. Hussain revealed the conversation between Rohit and Dinesh Karthik after the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal loss to England in Adelaide.
“The headlines tomorrow will be about (Virat) Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami but the genuine hero of this Indian side, the actual man who has changed the culture of this Indian side was Rohit Sharma. We have DK with us and he says after that semifinal in Adelaide where they played meek, timid cricket, plauded along in the T20 semifinal, got below par score and England knocked them down, none down and won by 10 wickets, Rohit Sharma told Dinesh Karthik that 'we've to change, we need a change,” Hussain said on Sky Sports’ post-match show at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“There is one thing saying that and another to actually walking the walk. This is the first time they were tested. Can you play fearless cricket in a knockout game? The skipper went out and showed everyone in the dressing room that we are going to carry on exactly the same way,” Nasser said while lauding Rohit’s 29-ball 47 that set the tone after the Indian skipper won the toss and opted to bat first against the Kane Williamson-led side.
Rohit has been among India’s top run-scorers in the ongoing World Cup. Rohit has scored 550 runs from 10 innings at an average of 55 including one century and three fifties. His strike rate has been a stupendous 124.15.
“The top five-six batters, they have made it count. Very pleased with what Iyer has done in this tournament. Gill, the way he batted upfront was brilliant, unfortunately he had to return back. Kohli, as usual, was brilliant, played his trademark innings and got to his landmark. All in all, the batting was superb. That's the template we want to move with,” the 36-year-old said in the post-match presentation.
Shami was named ‘Player of the match’ for registering a seven-wicket haul to help India bowl out New Zealand for 327 in the penultimate over.
